Course recommendations on the way to Scotland

[woody69]

Every year, my friends and I travel to Scotland for the week and on the way up we play a course to break up the journey.

To give you an idea of locations, we have played Silloth, Carlisle, Brampton, Gleneagles (King and Queens) and Blairgowrie (Rosemount & Lansdowne) as we are heading over towards Aviemore.

We would prefer courses north of the border (or just below), rather than in England so we can get the bulk of the drive out of the way.

Could anyone offer up any recommendations / hidden gems on route that accept visitors on a Sat afternoon? Our route usually takes us M6 > A74 (M) > M9/A9, so anywhere just off that route would be perfect.

Thanks.

 

[Fish]

Every year, my friends and I travel to Scotland for the week and on the way up we play a course to break up the journey.

To give you an idea of locations, we have played Silloth, Carlisle, Brampton, Gleneagles (King and Queens) and Blairgowrie (Rosemount & Lansdowne) as we are heading over towards Aviemore.

We would prefer courses north of the border (or just below), rather than in England so we can get the bulk of the drive out of the way.

Could anyone offer up any recommendations / hidden gems on route that accept visitors on a Sat afternoon? Our route usually takes us M6 > A74 (M) > M9/A9, so anywhere just off that route would be perfect.

Thanks.

The M6 is a long road, where do you start out from?

 

[Qwerty]

Powfoot is worth a detour. It's not in the same league as the others you've mentioned but its an enjoyable Test and definately worth a visit.

Your looking at about 15 mins from the M6 at Gretna.

http://www.powfootgolfclub.com

 

[woody69]

The M6 is a long road, where do you start out from?

We start from Bracknell, so join the M6 at Birmingham, but as I mentioned we would prefer courses north of the border, so the M6 section is relatively short, i.e. from Carlisle and north.

 

[woody69]

Powfoot is worth a detour. It's not in the same league as the others you've mentioned but its an enjoyable Test and definately worth a visit.

Your looking at about 15 mins from the M6 at Gretna.

http://www.powfootgolfclub.com

Yes, this sort of place looks good. Cheers, will check it out!

 

[rudebhoy]

Lanark is meant to be very good. 25th oldest club in the world.

Haven't played it, but a bunch of mates did earlier this year, and they loved it. 15 mins from the M74, just south of Glasgow.

http://www.lanarkgolfclub.co.uk/index.html

 

[Duckster]

Powfoot's nice and Southerness isn't too far away from it. Moffat a bit further up is always worth a knock. If you go up the A7 instead of the main Mway then Cardrona or The Roxburghe can come into play.

I know it's earlier than you want on the English side you could easily stop off at Pleasington (Blackburn), quick detour on the M65.

 

[williamalex1]

Greenburn GC in Fauldhouse allow a few visitors on Saturdays and Sundays or perhaps Shotts GC on a Sunday both are not far of your route. What dates are looking for ?.

 

[Hosel Fade]

I just wouldn't look past Silloth personally, even if it does add an hour to the journey.

Where in Scotland are you going to? Can confirm Lanark is excellent.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Yep, Lanark is a beauty.

If you've ever played Delamere forest in Cheshire, like that but better, and lovely surrounding views.

I used to go to Scotland a lot on business and have played a few in the corridor, but out of Brampton, Lochmaben, Thornhill, Moffat, Southerness, Lockerbie - Lanark is far superior.

 

[williamalex1]

Yep, Lanark is a beauty.

If you've ever played Delamere forest in Cheshire, like that but better, and lovely surrounding views.

I used to go to Scotland a lot on business and have played a few in the corridor, but out of Brampton, Lochmaben, Thornhill, Moffat, Southerness, Lockerbie - Lanark is far superior.

Yip Lanark is first class but I don't think you can book weekend tee times as a visitor . But they do have an open comp on Wednesday 13th July you can book on line £16 :thup:

 

[SAPCOR1]

Southerness is a fantastic links and worth turning left after Gretna.

Haven't played Moffat for years but they are nice and friendly. Course has a few mountains and a nice grass walled par 3.

Lanark is worth a visit and if you continue past Lanark heading East then Harburn is a great course with lovely greens

 

[Duckster]

Yep, Lanark is a beauty.

If you've ever played Delamere forest in Cheshire, like that but better, and lovely surrounding views.

I used to go to Scotland a lot on business and have played a few in the corridor, but out of Brampton, Lochmaben, Thornhill, Moffat, Southerness, Lockerbie - Lanark is far superior.

We played Lanark last year but must have hit it on a bad day. Greens had been sprayed with some chemicals that made them look almost florescent! Purely down to that, almost everyone in our group of 20 was a bit underwhelmed with it.

 

[rudebhoy]

Yip Lanark is first class but I don't think you can book weekend tee times as a visitor . But they do have an open comp on Wednesday 13th July you can book on line £16 :thup:

my mates played on a Sunday about 6 or 7 weeks ago. You might need to phone up to book it rather than do it online.

 

[woody69]

We go every year on the 2nd weekend in Oct, so it's a little way away yet. Just doing some background research!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Certainly gives us plenty to think about.

 

[TonyN]

Why not give the old Golf Monthly Ryder cup course a look, http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/

Don't think you'll be disappointed there. Lovely place.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Another thumbs up for Lanark.

Southerness also very good but possibly too big a detour on a long trip. Moffat is just minutes off the M74, good suroundings but no better than an "ok" course so depends what you're after.

 

[Foxholer]

We played Lanark last year but must have hit it on a bad day. Greens had been sprayed with some chemicals that made them look almost florescent! Purely down to that, almost everyone in our group of 20 was a bit underwhelmed with it.

That would certainly put a 'damper' on the enjoyment - as a normal feature of Lanark is the rocket speed greens (and their quality)!

Great example of 'moorland' golf!

Certainly a really good course, if with (to me) a slightly 'dull' last few holes. The 18th is a (really tough) Par 3 and the previous couple are a bit featureless - though that doesn't prevent them being difficult!

Not played many/any of the alternatives, but would be happy to recommend the diversion to play Lanark!

 

[woody69]

Why not give the old Golf Monthly Ryder cup course a look, http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/

Don't think you'll be disappointed there. Lovely place.

Looks lovely, but it's on the wrong side of the coast!

 

[stevek1969]

get up to Scotscraig just outside Dundee ,course is superb at that time of year, it just over 2 hrs to Aviemore